Racial transformation plan for Springboks

Excellent point. Everyone likes to pretend that its all down to evil white racism but South African blacks are GENERALLY (warning warning generalisation alert - anti-racists get ready to pounce) smaller in stature and slighter in body shape compared to those Africans in countries to the North - Zimbabwe, Uganda, Nigeria. Size and strength definitely matter in rugby today, just ask the Pacific Islanders. Some would say those physical countries are now everything. Do people seriously think that SA Rugby administrators and coaches would be refusing to select players due to racist beliefs? If so they are completely nuts. These guys care about only one thing, and that's winning. They dont give a damn about the how, why or who of it, just that it happens. They would select black players in a hearbeat if they were built like a Tongan or fast like the Fijians but fact is they are now. Genetically South Africans are physically more suited to long distance running, not power sprints like Ethiopians and Kenyans and to game of soccer rather than rugby. I know I will now get hit by accusations of racism and numerous people saying 'what about Zulus' and pointing out their neighbour or good friend who is South African, black and built like Jonah Lomu. Whatever... All I can say is I have decided to support the Springboks at World Cup this year as suspect the end is very near for them and this could be their last chance

Hear hear. Couldnt agree morr.

Craven week is terrible sample of rugby as a whole in a province. I can't comment on other areas, but in WP the team is 90% from six schools, when there are hundreds that play rugby at decent level. Politics (who the selectors are, who your dad is, etc) plays a massive role in who makes the team.

Well... let's be realistic and honest, or honestly realistic. Every springbok team ever selected has had some or other form of racial quota applied. Same with the cricket. So when Clive Rice says 'Racial Quota's are hurting the Proteas' does he exclude the period when he too, was a beneficiary of racial preferentialism? The nature of sports writing in South Africa has completely obliterated 'black' achievement in sport, and is built upon the denial of sportsmen & women who were good enough, but not acceptable. We have had change without transformation, and democracy without transparency. The haste to dismantle the antiapartheid sports movement within South Africa, with all its 'negative tentacles', was also the bedrock of grassroots sport. That should be seen as Mandela's crowning achievement - the destruction of a movement that helped 'free him' but which was seen as 'the most dangerous rebel organisation in South Africa' (FW De Klerk, Beeld, 17 October, 1982). At the time, De Klerk was apartheid minister of sport. It is a pity that this is still an issue, but it perfectly sums up South African society, because Mandela & Co. opted for the quick fix, instead of addressing the fundamental issues of our society i.e. A racially, socially and economically stratified nation. Sport was merely a smokescreen, and visual denial of reality. What we now have is increasing radicalism within the ANC, and pride in stupidity. The alarming rise of the EFF is a major cause for concern. Some of the comments here actually echo my thoughts - we are going to see an exodus of players, and that is already happening. My wife works in radiology, and in one hospital in East London SA, there have been 9 resignations (paediatrics) and 5 radiographers just in January. Most are fleeing to Saudi Arabia & Australia. The SA Government is already struggling to cope with 4600 resignations per month since September 2014 in education, and nursing. A school not far from where we live, has 1400 pupils, and only 27 teachers - leaving roughly 52 kids per class! It has been amazing that our sports of cricket & rugby have managed to stay competitive for so long. As a long time critic of the system, I can only say that as much as I abhor the sports system, sports victories, at the very least, give South Africans something to cheer about. Once that goes, the wheels will come off quite badly. Oh - and Harry Jones, I have been invited to speak at the SA Rugby Museum on 25 June. At this stage my hosts have provided that date as firm. Maybe then, if you make it, you'll be able to give me details about who's funding your bloody book! I need to tap into that resource.

Well,race will always be a factor in Not only sport but South African society.. SARU should do more for grassroots rugby to enable transformation that is sustainable.. First before we do anything there is need for rugby to appear of Free To Air platforms where most black people can afford to watch the sport... Most black people cant afford to watch rugby which is shown of pay TV provider Supersport...Even Supersport has a number of packages and Rugby is shown on the most expensive whoch goes for about US$90 and yet there r cheaper packages which show Soccer including the English and Spanish leagues which is only about US$29...So what it means is the African population,whom mostly cant afford to pay the 90 dollars due to povery from Aphatheid they are completely shut out from rugby... They cant watch the Springboks,SuperRugby,Currie Cup,Vodacom Cup or even the Varsity and schools rugby which they have to pay out 90 dollars to watch... This is where transformation should start before we go anywhere else.... This current broadcast regime is perpetuated Aphatheid and colonialism against the black population... Secondly i have noticed black players are judged on higher standards that white players in general be it rugby and even cricket... A black player having 1 bad game you start hearing groans and moans but a Piennar can have 30 poor showings and no 1 suggests he is there because he is white but look at the black dude and suggestions that he got into the team because he is black surface... Aphatheid is alive and well not only in Rugby but in society in general.. The only people who have shunned Aphatheid in their operations is the South African Football Association.... Their teams are properly consituted and i dont feel any1 has an advantage due to colour but the same cannot be said for rugby and cricket hence they find themselves in this mess of quotas and so forth.. Instead of blaming the ANC the rugby authorities and fans,especially the white segments should simply look in the mirror and realise they created this and no 1 else should be asked to take the blame except them

They were mercenaries in those days, no values.

Harry, sounds great - a bit out of my line but I'll try my best..........

We'll leave the thinking to our resident lawyer, we'll just make the grunting sounds ;)

Charl, you can email me at haribaldijones@gmail.com and I'll email you and biltong some ideas to get started It'll be good, man! Tell Vic to email me

ANC distinguishes between Coloured (Carr, JPP, de. Jongh) and black African (Mvovo, Kolisi).

Thanks BB, then I can do - I have a similar problem problem though - I'm not very bright.......I'll need lots of support from you and Harry :)

No mate, The ones Harry and I have done, we email each other back and forth, everyone puts doen their arguments and then Harry finalises and edits the article with all our inputs. Your identity will be completely safe.

Harry, I would like that. I have really enjoyed getting to know all of you through the Roar, and realizing that despite our different backgrounds we all have a deep passion for our wonderful country and everything it has to offer. But the nature of my work asks for discretion, particularly where controversial subjects are concerned. Therefor I can only participate in a written conversation without specifically identifying myself. And it sounds to me as if you have in mind a verbal conversation?

How can someone who was, presumably born, grew up and educated in SA, not be "African enough"? If they are not considered African then how are they considered?

Mtembu is really good loose forward. Carr (not "black" enough for the ANC) and Kolisi, too, but they all play in a position that is LOADED with talent (Alberts, Louw, Coetzee, Botha, Burger, Labuschagne, and on and on). Sithole and Rhule in the backs; Mvovo is meh. But they are all fighting over back three positions. Juan de Jongh is a personal favourite (also not "black African" to the ANC). Mujati is a good scrummaging tighthead; Steenkamp is bad now at loosehead. Where is that massive Sharks lock from? Giant?

New zealand actually carried on playing hence the reason for flour bombs olympic boycott etc

After watching a bit of s.a schools rugby, of the elite schools only outeniqua and bishops have any decent sort of black numbers. Traditional schools like the greys, affies etc have next to none?

Pick your absolute BEST players for thier position NOT on Quota, c@#p! in MY opinion, Habana, the Beast, Hendricks, Bisson yes, after that?

SARU's annual report (downloadable) makes this claim: The interesting outcome of the analysis was that while the greatest concentration of supporters is found in the metropolitan areas of Gauteng, KZN and the Western Cape (73%), there is a fair spread of fans across the country. The LSM ranges between 6 and 10 and 51% of the support base is black with 31% naming English as their first language. Of these, 65% consume rugby on the DSTV platform with the balance on the FTA (Freeto- Air platforms). Overall rugby outstripped both cricket and football as the No 1 watched sport while SA Rugby merchandise is the most consumed, accounting for 24% out of all sports merchandise purchased in South Africa.

Vic, would you like to participate in a 4-man coffee/barber shop discussion on this topic (you, me, Charl, Biltong)? It could be funny, irreverent, but also with solid facts and reality as foundation.